Coin controlled time switch mechanism



March 24,1936 F. CAMPAGNA ET AL 2,034,744

COIN CONTROLLED'TIME SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Oct. 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheetl I 26 6 Inventors @z dmandqmga 2 24 JJ epiz Cazrzz 1% By w orney M i-24, 193 F. CAMPAGNA ET AL 2943349744 COIN CONTROLLED TIME SWITCHMECHANISM Filed 001;. l, 1954 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 24, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN CONTROLLED TIME SWITCH MECHANISMFerdinand Campagna and Joseph Camille Rivet,

Montreal, Quebec,

Canada 3 Claims.

The present invention, relates to improvements in coin controlled timeswitch mechanisms.

Animportant object of the invention is the provision of coin controlledmechanism for clos- 5 ing an electric circuit for a predetermined timeperiod.

A further object of the invention is the provision of switch operatingmechanism whereby oneor more electric light circuits may be oper- 10ated for selectedtime periods by coin controlled means.v

Another object of the invention is the provision of switch operatingmechanism including coin controlled switch closing means and mechanism15 actuated by the switch closing means for retaining a light circuitswitch closed for a predetermined period of time.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of switchoperating mechanism which will 20. be eflicient and reliable inoperation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description progresses;

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification and inwhich-like reference characters are employed to designate correspondingparts throughout the same:

Figurel is-a perspective view of a votive stand with which the switchmechanism is adapted to 30 be associated,

Figure 2 isla side elevational view showing the mechanism assembled foroperating a plurality of electric lightcircuits with the circuitcontrolling switches in open position,

Figure 3 is a similar view, showing the passage of a coin through thecoin switch and the initial closing of a circuit switch,

Figure 4 is a similar view showingthe timing mechanisms in operativeposition,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing a plurality of assembledtiming mechanisms,

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-5 of Figure 5, and

Figure '7 is a transverse section taken on the line'L-l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a detail of the latch mechanism shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I designatesthe-controlling switch constituting a pair of complementary springcontact arms provided with arcuate contact knobs I I. The arms of theswitch H] are preferably disposed to assume con- 55verging'complementarypositions disposed so that a coin, indicated at l2,may be passed between the same and will bridge the contacts ll duringpassage through the switch.

One terminal of the switch [0 is electrically connected with an electricmagnet-coil I 4 having disposed thereabove a vertically movable armaturebar 15, supported at one end, as indicated at E6, and carrying a switchcontact point I! at the opposed end. When the coil I4 is de energizedthe arm I5 is disposed to assume a posi- 10 tion spaced thereabove and,upon energization of the coil, is adapted to be attracted and swungdownwardly. When the arm is swung to a downward operative position thecontact I! attached thereto is disposed to engage a complementary fixedswitch contact I8. The auxiliary switch op erating coil I 4 is to bearranged adjacent an actuating magnet coil having slidably fittedtherein a core 2!. The outer end of the core 2| is pivotally connectedto the intermediate portion of a 20 swinging lever 22 the lower end ofwhich is pivotally connected with the pivot bracket 23. To the upper endof the lever 22 is pivotally connected one extremity of a pawl 24, theouter free end of the pawl being formed with a hook 25. A 25 tensionspring 26, connected to the lever 22, is adapted to swing the lever awayfrom the coil when the latter is de-energized.

Upon a rotary shaft 28- are rigidly secured a pluraltiy of switchclosing wheels 29 arranged in 30 parallel spaced relation, as shown toadvantage at Figure 5. Each of the wheels 29 is provided with a radialtooth 30. To the side of one of the wheels 29 is secured a ratchet wheel3| formed with peripheral ratchet teeth. The hook 25 of the pawl 24engages the teeth of the ratchet Wheel at the top, as shown to advantageat Figure 2.

Upon an intermediate fixed shaft 33 are supported a plurality of rockerlevers 34, corresponding in number to the wheels 29 of the assembledmechanism. At one end of each rocker lever 34 is formed an angularenlargement embodying a right angular hook forming extension 35 providedwith an elongated slot 35'. Within the slot 35 is mounted a catch bar 36pivotally supported intermediate its ends and having the upper endbevelled. A compression spring 36, mounted in the lower part of theenlargement, bears against the lower end portion of the catch bar 36 andtends to normally dispose the same at an angle in the slot so that theupper bevelled end projects at one side of the hook 35. At the opposedend of each rocker is formed a switch engaging knob on the top side andarcuate boss at the bottom side engageable by the tooth 30 of the rotarywheel 29.

As illustrated at Figures 2 to 4 inclusive the intermediate portion ofeach rocker 34 is rotatably journalled on the shaft 33. Upon step bystep rotation of the shaft 28 through the medium of the pawl and ratchetmechanism the tooth of each wheel 29 is operable to engage the boss onthe rocker and elevate the inner end thereof to effect a switch closingoperation, as will be described hereinafter.

A rotatably supported drive shaft 3! is connected with and driven at apredetermined rotary speed by means of an electric motor 31' or othersource of power. Upon the shaft 3'! are mounted. at spaced intervals, aplurality of timing discs 38 each being provided with a V-shapedindentation or notch 39. The discs 38 are rotatably fitted on the shaft31 and are resiliently associated there.- with so as to rotate with theshaft when unre' strained. The disc holding means embodies a pair ofannular clutch plates 40 arranged against the opposed faces of each discand positively held on the shaft by means of pins 4| extending throughthe plates and shaft. The plates 40 are resiliently urged against eachdisc by means of coiled compression springs 42 disposed upon the shaft,the clutch plates being adapted to frictionally engage the discs. Thebook 35'formed at the outer end of each rocker is engageable with theV-shaped notch 39 in each timing disc.

Immediately above the inner end of each rocker 34 is arranged a circuitcontrolling switch embodying an upper fixed arm 44 carrying a contactpoint 45 adjacent its outer extremity and a comple- .,mentary spring arm46 carrying a complementary contact point 41. The lower spring arm 46 isformed to normally maintain the contact point 41 spaced from theco-operating contact so that the switch is in open arrangement.

The electric circuit preferably embodies a trans- 40 former 5Uelectrically connected with a source of electrical current throughconductors 5| and 52. One arm of the coin engaging switch I0 isconnected through a conductor 53 with the magnet coil I4, the opposedterminal of the coil l4 being connected with the transformer through aconductor 54. The complementary arm of the coin switch ltl is connectedwith the transformer through a conductor 55. The pivoted end of thearmature bar I 5 connects with the coil 20 through a conductor 56 whilethe opposed terminal of this coil connects with the conductor through awire 51. The fixed switch contact I8 is connected with the conductor 54through a conductor 58.

In the present example the mechanism is shown assembled for coincontrolled operation of a plurality of votive light circuits, eachcircuit embodying a socket 69 having one side connected with theconductor 54 through the medium of a conducting wire 6!. The other sideof each socket is connected with the fixed bar 44 of a light circuitcontrolling switch through a conductor 62. The lower spring bar 46 ofthe light circuit switch is connected with the conductor 55 through aconducting wire 63.

When a coin or check of predetermined size is introduced into a chute orother guide means directing the sanzr through the complementary arms ofthe main switch It), the coin passes between the switch arms and bridgesthe same causing momentary closure of the switch. During the passage ofthe'coin through the switch It? the magnet coil i4 is initiallyenergized causing the bar l5 to swing towards the coil and causingengagement of the points I! and I8 of the coil actuated switch, asshown. at Figure 3. Closure of the magnet actuated switch closes thecircuit through the coil 29 which, upon becoming energized will causethe core 2| to slide inwardly and swing the lever 22 toward the coil.During the inward swinging movement of the lever 22 the pawl 24 willcause partial rotation of the ratchet 3i and wheel 29 attached thereto,at which time the tooth of one of the wheels 29 will move into rockerswinging position, that is, the tooth; will move through the upper arcand cause elevation of the inner end of the rocker and closure of thelight circuit switch. When the inner end of the rocker is thus elevated,the hook 35 of the opposed end will swing downwardly to disengage thenotch 39 of one of the timing discs so that the liberated disc will'berotated with the time shaft 37. As the tooth 39 disengages the inner endof the rocker, the point of the hook 35 will contact with the annularperipheral edge of the timing disc 38 so that the rocker is maintainedin switch closing position until the rotating disc completes a completetimed revolution. When the notch 39 returns to its starting position thehook 35 will slide therein so that the inner end of the rocker islowered and the light circuit switch automatically opened.

Inasmuch as the discs 38 operate at a. relatively low speed the catchbars 36 are provided to prevent reenery of the hooks 35 into the notches39 immediately following release movement of the hooks and until suchtime as the discs have completed a full turn movement.

As shown in the drawings, the wheels 29 are disposed so that the teeththereof will be successively moved into engagement with the re-'spective rocker arms so that the entire series of lights may beilluminated for a timed period in successive order. 7

In order to light one of the votive light bulbs indicated at 65, it ismerely necessary to deposit a win of designated character or a similarcheck piece into the coin chute indicated at 66 from whence it isconducted into and through the con-- trol switch Ill. The switchactuating mechanism which will be housed in a casing 61 at the bottom ofthe stand will thus be placed in operation so that one of the lightswill be illuminated and retained in such condition for a selected periodof time.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our claim:- 7 l. A time switch mechanism,comprising an electro-magnetically actuated ratchet wheel, a shaftconnected to said wheel, a disc on said shaft, a projection on the disc,a pivoted rocker adapted to be lifted at one end by the projection ofthe disc, a hook at the other end of the rocker, a frictionally rotatedwheel having a notch adapted to receive said hook whereby rotation ofthe friction wheel is suspended. and a pair of electric contacts adaptedto be closed by the raising of the rocker by the disc projection, thisaction causing at the same time release of the friction wheel androtation thereof for a complete revolution before the rocker hook againengages the notch of said wheel.

2. In time switch mechanism, a constant-speed invention, we

driven shaft, frictionally driven notched discs mounted on said shaft,rockers having one end adapted to engage the discs notches to preventrotation thereof, and electro-magnetically actuated means adapted tosuccessively lift said rockers out of engagement with the discs, intoelectric-circuit-closing position, said position being retained untilthe discs have completed a full revolution to again present the notchinto which the rockers ends will drop into circuit opening position.

3. In time-switch mechanism, a shaft driven at a constant speed, discsfrictionally mounted on said shaft, said discs having a notch, pivotedrockers having one end provided with a hook adapted to drop into thenotch of the discs to prevent rotation thereof, electric-circuit-closingcontacts adapted to be closed by the other end of the rockers, aplurality of toothed discs adapted to successively raise the rockersinto contact closing position out of the discs notches, andelectro-magnetically operated ratchet means adapted to step-advance thetoothed discs into rocker raising position, the released friction discsrotating for one full revolution before being hookarrested, wherebydropping of said hooks into the notches will open the electric-circuitcontacts.

FERDINAND CAMPAGNA. JOSEPH CAMILLE RIVET.

